The Death Star-sized Star Wars rumor du jour is one that, in a sense, sci-fi and fantasy fans could have probably predicted: J.J. Abrams, the creative force behind everything from Lost to the most recent Star Trek movies—and a noted Star Wars fan—will direct Star Wars: Episode VII.

Ever since the news broke in October that Disney had purchased Lucasfilm from George Lucas and planned to add to the cinematic Star Wars canon, the Internet has regularly erupted with rumors about possible directors, and Abrams’ name had been a common guess. Today, Deadline reports that “it’s a done deal” for Abrams and Disney. The Hollywood Reporter doesn’t go quite so far, but says the talks between the two parties are in late stages of negotiations. The movie, according to the Los Angeles Times, will be written by Toy Story 3‘s Michael Arndt.

For many Star Wars observers, Abrams seems like a natural choice. On the other hand, it’s something that people paying attention to the Star Wars news might not have predicted—because they had already been told that there was no point thinking about it. It wasn’t even a month ago that Abrams was telling interviewers he was absolutely not going to direct the movie. In November, Abrams told Entertainment Weeklythat, although he (along with Brad Bird and Steven Spielberg) had been sent a treatment of the script, he would not take on the project. Then, in late December, he further explained that he could not be loyal to Star Trek—his next installment of which comes out May 17—and Star Wars at the same time, and that he’d rather just be a fan, seeing the action unfold in a theater rather than seeing how his intergalactic sausage gets made.

Now, however, it seems that his fandom may no longer be holding him back. As a certain Sith might say: he was once but the learner, but he may soon become the master.

Please God don't allow that man to make any more movies. He employs a
technique called lens flares, which he frequently uses in
his films. It's like watching a movie while someone frequently
shoves a flashlight in your face. It's unbearable. Abrams thinks it's
cool and hip. It's not. It's f***ing annoying and amateurish. STOP WITH
THE LENS FLARES!!!

Star Wars Episode VII will be brought to you by the same guy who directed the canceled show Undercovers: Sexpinonage Made Easy. I can't wait to watch another happy couple (Luke & Leia) team together to take care of the only time they face conflict comes from a faceless stream of stereotypical villains. Like bringing a cupcake to a Jedi Lightsaber fight.